Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive News and Updates

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Maxner named to Vietnam Education Foundation Board of Directors

The Director of the Vietnam Center and Archive, Dr. Stephen F. Maxner, has received a Presidential appointment to the board of directors of the Vietnam Education Foundation, a government agency that works to strengthen the United States’ relationship with Vietnam through educational exchanges in science and technology. Congratulations, Dr. Maxner!

Posted by Mary Saffell at 11:05 am
Labels: staff spotlight,vietnam center

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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Changes to the Virtual Vietnam Archive

To help make the Virtual Vietnam Archive more user-friendly, we have made a few minor changes to the Browse Search Results pages. These changes are mostly cosmetic, serving to make the page look a little more streamlined.

The most significant change involves the “More Information” link, which takes users to another view of the record that includes more detailed information about that item. Previously, this link was located on the right side of each record (to the right of the Item Number). It is now located above each record as a new “tab”.

A new tab has also been added, titled “Record Linking”. This tab will take users to a page with a URL for that individual item record. Within the Virtual Vietnam Archive, users are not able to bookmark records, or email links, due to licensing limitations. This new URL can be copied and pasted to be used for bookmarks, emailing, adding as links to other websites, etc.

If you have any questions about any of these features, or about the Virtual Archive in general, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 806-742-9010 or vietnamarchive@ttu.edu.

Posted by Justin Saffell at 3:12 pm
Labels: virtual vietnam archive,website

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Monday, September 15, 2008

Oral History Interview of Interest

We have recently posted to our Oral History web page an interview conducted with Mr. Michael Little. Little served in the Central Highlands with the 504th MP Battalion from August of 1967 until August of 1968. While in country, Little underwent a life changing experience when he developed a very close relationship with a group of Bahnar Montagnard children from a village near Pleiku. Following his departure from Vietnam in August of 1968, Little attempted to stay in contact with the children through friends in the 504th, but lost contact after the last of his buddies returned to the US. However, in 1994, after years of separation, Little was able to reconnect with his Montagnard family when the Vietnamese government opened the Central Highlands to foreign visitors. In this interview, Little recounts his experiences in Vietnam with particular focus on his continuing relationship with his Bahnar family. In addition to helping his “adopted” family, Little continues to aid the Montagnard people through his role as a board member of the Friends of Vinh Son Orphanage. Little’s story is one of a remarkable bond that could not be broken by time, distance, or the fortunes of war.

(Photo courtesy of Mike Little)

Vietnam Center and Archive Closed, Friday, September 12th.

Due to excessive rain and flooding in the Lubbock area, Texas Tech University and the Vietnam Center and Archive will be closed on Friday, September 12th. We will reopen on Monday, September 15th.

Posted by Justin Saffell at 7:13 am
Labels: general news,vietnam archive,vietnam center

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Monday, September 8, 2008

FVPPA Collection Name Search Database

Did you know that the Vietnam Archive has the records of those assisted by the Families of Vietnamese Political Prisoners Association (FVPPA) in applying to emigrate from Vietnam under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ Orderly Departure Program (ODP)? The Vietnam Archive’s FVPPA Collection contains the records of over 12,000 ODP applicants. To find out if you, a family member, a friend, or a military counterpart have a record in the FVPPA Collection’s ODP Application Files, use the FVPPA Collection name search database.

How do you search the FVPPA Collection name search database?

Go to the Vietnam Archive’s FVPPA Collection webpage.
In the right column, under “Navigation Links,” click “Search Applicant Names Database.”
Enter the name you are searching for in the “Search All Files” search field and click the “Search ” button.

You can search using complete or partial names, or even using * searches. Names are entered in the database in Vietnamese order, which is the opposite of American order, so if you are searching for a complete name, enter the family name first, followed by first and middle names. You can also enter just part of a name, like a family name, or if you are unsure of the spelling, you can enter part of a name followed by an * (i.e. Ngu* will pull up all names starting with Ngu). The database will check your query against the primary name in the file, as well as aliases and other listed names.

Files are arranged by the name of the principal applicant, who is the person who has status under the ODP qualifications. For example, Nguyen Van Be, a former Vietnamese political prisoner, is applying for his family to immigrate to the U.S. through the ODP. His list of family members includes his wife Pham Thi Phuong, his son Nguyen Ngoc Be, and his father Nguyen Ngo Be. Nguyen Van Be’s name will be the one listed on the file. If, however, Nguyen Van Be’s wife was also a Vietnamese political prisoner or a U.S. employee, her name will also appear on the file, for she too has status and qualifies as a principal applicant under ODP. The order of the two names on the file is determined alphabetically. If the widow of a principal applicant applies, the file is listed with her name first, followed by that of her deceased husband. If the children of a principal applicant are orphans when they apply, the file is listed under the names of the children. If the applicant has a known alias it is noted on the file. For example, Nguyen Van Be has an alias of Pham Van Be. His file would be marked Nguyen Van Be a.k.a. Pham Van Be. If an ODP applicant has more than one date of birth the dates of birth are listed on the file.

Due to privacy concerns all ODP Application files are restricted until December 1, 2008. Only the principal applicant, the spouse of a deceased principal applicant, or the children of a principal applicant may request that access to an ODP Application file be restricted beyond December 1, 2008. To restrict a file, or to request more information, search for the record using the instructions above. Each record includes email links for requesting more information or to request that a file be restricted. Please use these links as they automatically include information to help us process your request in a timely manner.

If you need assistance, or have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the Vietnam Archive at (806) 742-9010 or e-mail Vietnamese American Heritage Archivist Ann Mallett at vahc.vietnam@ttu.edu.

Posted by Ann Mallett at 9:41 am
Labels: vietnamese american heritage,website

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Thursday, September 4, 2008

Dr. Kelly Crager to speak in Washington, D.C.

Oral Historian Dr. Kelly Crager will travel to Washington D.C. next week to participate in academic gatherings and a Congressional briefing. First on his agenda is a panel discussion, “American POWs of the Japanese: World War II Experiences,” at the Sigur Center for Asian Studies, part of The Elliot School of International Affairs, at the George Washington University. On Wednesday, September 10 he will speak before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the issue of compensation for prisoners of the Japanese during World War II. Finally, on September 11, he will make a presentation on his recently published dissertation, “Hell under the Rising Sun: American POWs and the Building of the Burma-Thailand Death Railway,” at the Navy Memorial Lecture Hall, in an event co-sponsored by Navy Memorial and the Asia Society. Congratulations, Dr. Crager, on these outstanding achievements and contributions!